Portable surgical lamp

ABSTRACT

The invention is a portable, battery-operated, lighting apparatus to provide illumination for the performance of medical treatment and surgical procedures in the field where normal electric power is not available. The light source comprises lightweight, collapsible, tubular members arranged to provide a tripod stand and vertical support surmounted by an adjustable counterbalanced arm carrying a lamp cluster providing shadow-free lighting at one end and a suspended battery at an opposite end to counterbalance the lamp cluster. The device may be transported and assembled by one man without requiring any additional equipment.

United States Patent 1191 Pile [ PORTABLE SURGICAL LAMP [75] Inventor: Benjamin D. Pile, Colorado Springs,

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC.

[22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 347,533

[52] US. Cl 240/l.4, 240/81 C, 240/52,

240/67, 240/69, 240/81 BC, 287/58 CT, 248/123 [51] Int. Cl. F21v 21/22 [58] Field-of Search 240/l.4, 36, 81 BS,

240/81 BA, 81 BC, 81 BE, 52, 67, 69, 70, 81, 78 F, 81 C, 81 BD; 287/58 CT, 96, 100; 248/123,124, 168, 171

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 901,283 10/1908 Edmunds 230/52 R 1,481,981 1/1924 Boye 287/58 CT Jan. 1, 1974 1/1929 Boye 287/58 CT 1,942,925 1/1934 Jenkins 248/123 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 117,899 1/1947 Sweden 240/78 F Primary ExaminerRobert P. Greiner Attorney-James E. Noble 'et al.

[57] ABSTRACT The invention is a portable, battery-operated, lighting apparatus to provide illumination for the performance of medical treatment and surgical procedures in the field where normal electric power is not available. The light source comprises lightweight, collapsible, tubular members arranged to provide a tripod stand and vertical support surmounted by an adjustable counterbalanced arm carrying a lamp cluster providing shadowfree lighting'at one end and a suspended battery at an opposite end to counterbalance the lamp cluster. The device may be transported and assembled by one man without requiring any additional equipment.

9 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PORTABLE SURGICAL LAMP The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for govern mental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a portable light source for surgical procedures in the field during military operations. Such a light source must be lightweight, portable and rugged to withstand field use.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various lighting fixtures have been designed for medical or dental use and a patent issued to J. A. Hand et al., U. S. Pat. No. 1,642,367, is representative of those designs. In this patent a plurality of lights are mounted on an adjustable boom and are capable of being raised or lowered as necessary.

Its disadvantage, however, is that it is a permanently mounted fixture and is dependent on the location of a separate source of power for the operation of the lamps. Further, the lamps disperse the light and do not direct the beams to a particular area.

Another support for electric lamps is shown in a patent issued to A. L. Ide, U. S. Pat. No. 278,797, the unique feature of this lamp is that the lighting fixture is mounted on a boom balanced by a counterweight allowing the entire arrangement to be rotated about the support mast and a collar about the mast such that the boom may be raised or lowered thereon. The disadvantage of this structure is that the boom is fixed in length and the structure is not portable. The fixture is also dependent on the location of a separate source of power and the sole function of the weight is to counterbalance the lamp.

Finally, a patent issued to L. E. Allmand et al., U. S. Pat. No. 2,899,540, shows a portable electric lantern with individually adjustable lamps mounted on a telescopic, adjustable mast. This device was designed for a construction lighting system and uses a self-contained motor generator unit as a source of power. The primary disadvantage of this device is that although it is indeed portable, it must be transported by truck and moved about the job site by heavy equipment. Also, although the lamps are adjustable, they are designed to provide light over the maximum amount of area and cannot be adjusted so as to provide shadow free light in a particular area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a lighting apparatus comprising a tensioned tripod base, vertical and horizontal members formed by adjustable, telescoping tubular members. The horizontal member is surmounted on the vertical member, carrying a cluster of lamps, providing shadow free lighting at one end and, to prevent sliding and tilting motion, a battery suspended on a strap to counterbalance the lamp cluster at the opposite end. The structure being collapsible and easily transported by one man.

None of the aforementioned light sources satisfy the requirements for a compact, lightweight, portable, ad justable and rugged light source to provide shadow free lighting suitable for emergency field medical treatment and surgical procedures. Accordingly, it is a primary object to provide a lightweight, portable, rugged, shadow free light source for field surgical procedures and medical treatment which may be quickly assembled and disassembled, without use of tools, by one person.

It is another object of this invention to provide a relatively shadow free light source for surgical operations by providing a plurality of lamps individually adjustable so as to direct their individual beams on the same operating area.

Another object of this invention is to use the battery not only as a source of power but also as a functional part of the structure and use hollow tubes, adjustable in length and flexible cables as other structural members.

These advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fully assembled view of the surgical lamp ready for operation.

FIG. 2 is a view of the lamp assembly structure.

FIG. 3a is a view of the first mount to which the lamp assembly structure is attached; 7

FIG. 3b is a view of the yoke with slotted sections for receiving the first mount;

FIG. 4a is a view of the boom coupling;

FIG. 4b is a view of the second mount with slotted sections from receiving the boom coupling;

FIG. 5a is a central sectional view on the line 5a5a of FIG. 6b;

FIG. Sb is a full bottom view of FIG. 5a; 1

FIG. Sc is a view of the flexible cable showing the spherical ends; a

FIG. 6a is a view of a tripod leg;

FIG. 6b is a view of the base, assembled and in open position;

FIG. 6c is a cross-sectional view off the telescoping tubular sections showing indentations in registering position;

FIG. 6d is a view of the base, folded and ready for storage;

FIG. 6e is a cross-sectional view of a joint in the telescoping sections through one row of indentations; and

FIG. 6f is a vertical section through a joint in the tubular sections with the indentations in registry and a stop for the sections.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, more particularly to FIG. 1, the assembled lamp structure is shown with a lamp assembly 1 attached to a telescopic boom 2, the boom being mounted on a telescopic mast 3 by a coupling 4 which permits the boom 2 to rotate and tiltrelative to the mast 3. The boom is balanced by a battery 5 used as a counterweight. The entire structure being supported by a base 6 comprising an upright member 7 and a plurality of legs 8.

FIG. 2 shows the lamp assembly 1 with a plurality of lamps 9 and reflectors 10, each reflector being covered by a clear plastic cover 100. A plurality of knurled thumb screws 11 protrude through the lamp assembly bracket 12 and support adjustable arms 13 which support each lamp. The knurled thumb screws 11 are adjustable to raise and lower the adjustable arms about the point of attachment to the lamp assembly bracket 12, so as to cause the light from each of the individual lamps to impinge on the same operating area, thereby providing a relatively shadow free operating area. A U- shaped member 14 is attached by screws 14a to thee lamp assembly bracket 12 so that the lamp assembly may be raised, lowered or rotated by grasping the U- shaped member and applying the necessary force. The U-shaped member is constructed of stainless steel and is easily removable so it may be sterilized with surgical instruments before each new operation. The lamp assembly bracket 12 is attached to a first mount 15, FIG. 3a, by means of a pin connection through registering slots 15a in the first mount. The first mount 15, is tubular with a threaded rod 15b extending through its diameter at one end and the registering slots 15a at the other. This mount 15 is rotatably attached to a yoke 28, FIG. 3b. The yoke 28 has a U-shaped member 28b, fixedly attached at the bottom of the U to a tubular section 280. The top of the U-shaped member has slotted sections 28a for receiving threaded rods 15b of the first mount. Nuts on these threaded rods are tightened so as to allow the lamp assembly to be rotated but with enough tension to hold lamp assembly in place once so positioned. The yoke is held in place on the boom by spring tension and registration created by a series of circular indentations, dimples 16, spaced at 120 intervals around the tubular section as shown in FIG.

The indentations 16" provide the desired spring action, when the smaller diameter sections are inserted into the larger diameter sections, to maintain a firm and straight joint. By referring to FIG. 6e it is noted that compression exists at the contact points of the indentations causing tension and slight distortion in the outer tubing between the indentations. FIG. 6e exaggerates this condition by showing the narrowing of the space between the inner and outer tubing sections at 16. In practice the indentations are made to a depth that an inscribed circle at the contact point of the indentations is approximately 0.030 inches less in diameter than the outside diameter of the inner sections. An advantage of this joint is that a variation of plus or minus 0.010 inch in the above dimension will not seriously affect the utility of the joint; the spring action will simply be more or less.

The boom 2 is an assembly of tubular sections, each section fitting within a larger diameter section and held together by the tension and registration of dimples 16. The smallest in diameter of these sections fitting into the tubular section 28a of yoke 28. When stowing the boom, these sections slide completely into larger sections reducing the length of the boom to the length of one section. The limit to which the sections may be telescoped is determined by the stop ring 36 provided with a groove 37 which engages indents or dimples 38 as shown in FIG. 6f.

The boom 2 is mounted on the mast 3 by inserting the largest diameter end of the boom into the coupling 4, FIG. 4a, attached to a second mount 17, FIG. 4b, which fits over the uppermost section of the mast 3. The coupling 4 is tubular with two threaded rods 18a fixedly attached to its periphery 180 apart. Midway between these two threaded rods is a fiat thumb screw 18 protruding through the wall of'the sleeve so as to be tightened and hold the boom in place when boom is inserted therein.

This second mount 17 has a U-shaped member attached at the bottom of the U to a tubular section. The second mount has slotted sections 17a for receiving threaded rods 18a of the sleeve 4. Nuts on these threaded rods are tightened so as to allow the ends of the boom 2 to be raised or lowered slightly but with sufficient tension to hold boom in position once so moved.

The mast 3 is identical to boom 2 structurally in that it also is an assembly of tubular sections, each section fitting within a larger diameter section. The sections being held together by the tension and registration created by dimples 16. They differ in orientation in that the mast 3 is vertical while the boom 2 is generally horizontal. The tubular section 19 of the mount 17 fits over the smallest diameter section of the mast 3 and is held in place by the tension and registration of dimples 16. Also, like the boom, the mast is stowed by collapsing each of its sections within larger sections reducing length of the mast to the length of one section.

The upright member of the base assembly, FIG. 6b, is an extendible member having an external tubular member 7 fixedly mounted on a base assembly bracket 20 and an internal tubular member 21 with a support coupling 22 for receiving the mast 3 and a battery strap guide 23 fitting over the uppermost part of internal tubular member 21. Cables 26 fixedly attached at one end to the legs 8 in bayonet slots 8a are fixedly held in place by the internal tubular member 21 fitting inside the support coupling 22 at a circular ridge 24a internally of a flanged portion 27 on the support coupling 22.

The support coupling 22, FIG. 5a, is provided with a first recess 22a for receiving the mast. This first recess having dimples 16 to hold the mast in position. The support coupling also has an external circular ridge 22d about the lower portions of the coupling so as to provide support for the battery strap guide 23, which fits over the upper portion of the support coupling. This support coupling has an internal circular recess 22b and slots 24 for receiving cables 25, FIG. 5c. The cable ends 25a being spherical with a radius greater than the radius of the cables.

The slots are wide enough to allow the cables to pass through but not the ends. The circular recess 22b provides sufficient room for the cable ends to allow the internal member 21 to be inserted into a second recess 22c thereby fixedly holding in place the cable ends. The support coupling 22 is held in place on the internal member 21 of the base 6 by tightening set screw 27.

The internal tubular member 21 and external tubular member 7 are dimpled, as in FIG. 60, so as to be held in place when the upright member is fully extended. The legs are connected to the base assembly bracket by a pin 8b through the base assembly bracket 20 and the legs, thereby allowing the legs to rotate through a are. When the upright members 7 and 21 are fully extended and held in place by the dimples, the cables are placed in tension and draw the legs into an open position nearly horizontal and extending radially outwardly from the upright'members 7 and 21. In this position the legs 8 are held in tension by the cables 25 against the base assembly bracket 20. Since the legs fastened by pin 8b at one point on the base assembly bracket 20 and held by cables 25 in tension against another point, the legs cannot rotate further. The legs 8 andcables 25 aid in the support and stability of the entire structure. Leg extensions 80 are provided so as to give greater stability to the structure. These extensions are fitted into the hollow end of the legs 8.

The battery 5 is suspended by a strap 29 which fits through the battery strap guide 23 and attaches to one end of the boom 2 by means of a snap clip 32 or similar quick disconnect device. Power is provided for the lamps through a power cord 30 and is controlled by a switch 31. A ring 33 interconnects snap clip 32 and power cord 30 through a flexible connecting means 34 to support the power cord 30.

This device, when collapsed, may be stored in a rucksack measuring 6 A" X l 1 %"X 14". The entire apparatus including rucksack and battery weighs only 17 pounds.

I claim:

1. A portable light source comprising:

a. a plurality of lamps;

b. a horizontal, telescopic boom including support means for said lamps on one end thereof;

c. means for counterbalancing said lamps on the op posite end of said boom;

d. a vertically disposed telescopic mast for supporting said boom;

e. a plurality of indentations mutually spaced lengthwise of said mast and said boom for holding said telescopic mast and said telescopic boom in a plurality of fixed predetermined positions; and

f. a base with rotatable legs attached to an extendible center section with a support coupling secured at an end remote from said legs, each of said legs and said support coupling connected by a flexible cable, whereby when said center section is extended said cables are placed in tension and draw said legs into a substantially horizontal operating positions.

2. A light source asrecited in claim 1, wherein each of said lamps is supported by an adjustable arm whereby when said arm is adjusted, the light from said lamps impinges on the same area.

3. A light source as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of lamps is rotatably supported by said boom relative to said mast. y Y i 4. A light source as recited in claim 1, wherein said means forcounterbalancing said lamps is the power source for said lamps, said power source being a battery.

5. A light source as recited in claim 1, wherein said boom is rotatably supported by said mast.

6. A light source as recited in claim 1, wherein said interlocking indentations are circular and equally spaced about the perimeter of elements of said telescopic boom and said telescopic mast, whereby the mutual tension of said circular indentation when in registering position prevents relative motion between said elements.

7. A light source as recited in claim 1, wherein said support coupling has a first internal circular recess with a plurality of vertically disposed slots communicating with a second internal circular recess of greater diameter than said first recess, said slots receiving said cables and said second recess receiving said cable ends, said cable ends being larger in diameter than said cables and said slots, whereby said cable ends are held in a fixed position against the smaller diameter slots when said cables are placed in tension by insertion of said extendible center section of said base into said first recess.

8. A light source as recited in claim 1, wherein said support meansfor said lamps comprises:

a. a member having a central hub, a plurality of radially disposed U-shaped channels extending from said central hub and a recess centrally disposed in said central hub, said Ushaped channels opening upwardly in operating condition;

b. a yoke including a tubular portion having peripherally disposed indentations, said tubular portion receiving at one end thereof a base member supporting a U-shaped member having vertical slots in the legs thereof;

0. a tubular member having threaded mounting means extending transversely through registering apertures disposed at one end thereof and registering slots disposed at an opposite end of said tubular member, said threaded mounting means received in said vertical slots of said U-shaped member and said opposite end of said tubular member having said registering slots received in said recess of said central hub and means for securing said tubular member within said recess;

d. fastening means extending transversely of the legs of said U-shaped channels for securing arms projecting beyond said U-shaped channels carrying said lamps;

e. threaded means extending through the bight portion of each of said U-shaped channels for engaging said arms adjacent the .end thereof secured in said U-shaped channels whereby upon adjustment of said threaded means said arms are raised and lowered;

f. stud means projecting beyond the plane of the surface of said central hub forming the bight portions of said radially disposed U-shaped channels; and

g. bail means releasably engaging said stud means for raising and lowering said plurality of lamps.

9. Support means for a plurality of lamps comprising:

a. a member having a central hub, a plurality of radially disposed U-shaped channels extending from said central hub and a recess centrally disposed in said central hub, said U-shaped channels opening upwardly in operating condition;

b. a yoke including a tubular portion having peripherally disposed indentations, saidtubular portion receiving at one end thereof a base member supporting a U-shaped member having vertical slots in the legs thereof.

c. a tubular member having threaded mounting means extending transversely through registering apertures disposed at one end thereof and registering slots disposed at an opposite end of said tubular member, said threaded mounting means received in said vertical slots of said U-shaped member and said opposite end of said tubular member having said registering slots received in said recess of said 7 central hub and means for securing said tubular member within said recess;

d. fastening means extending transversely of the legs of said U-shaped channels for securing arms projecting beyond said U-shaped channels carrying said lamps;

e. threaded means extending through the bight portion of each of said U-shaped channels for engaging said arms adjacent the end thereof secured in said U-shaped channels whereby upon adjustment of said threaded means said arms are raised and lowof said radially disposed U-shaped channels; and ered; g. bail means releasably engaging said stud means for f. stud means projecting beyond the plane of the surraising and lowering said plurality of lamps.

face of said central hub forming the bight portions 

1. A portable light source comprising: a. a plurality of lamps; b. a horizontal, telescopic boom including support means for said lamps on one end thereof; c. means for counterbalancing said lamps on the opposite end of said boom; d. a vertically disposed telescopic mast for supporting said boom; e. a pluRality of indentations mutually spaced lengthwise of said mast and said boom for holding said telescopic mast and said telescopic boom in a plurality of fixed predetermined positions; and f. a base with rotatable legs attached to an extendible center section with a support coupling secured at an end remote from said legs, each of said legs and said support coupling connected by a flexible cable, whereby when said center section is extended said cables are placed in tension and draw said legs into a substantially horizontal operating positions.
 2. A light source as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said lamps is supported by an adjustable arm whereby when said arm is adjusted, the light from said lamps impinges on the same area.
 3. A light source as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of lamps is rotatably supported by said boom relative to said mast.
 4. A light source as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for counterbalancing said lamps is the power source for said lamps, said power source being a battery.
 5. A light source as recited in claim 1, wherein said boom is rotatably supported by said mast.
 6. A light source as recited in claim 1, wherein said interlocking indentations are circular and equally spaced about the perimeter of elements of said telescopic boom and said telescopic mast, whereby the mutual tension of said circular indentation when in registering position prevents relative motion between said elements.
 7. A light source as recited in claim 1, wherein said support coupling has a first internal circular recess with a plurality of vertically disposed slots communicating with a second internal circular recess of greater diameter than said first recess, said slots receiving said cables and said second recess receiving said cable ends, said cable ends being larger in diameter than said cables and said slots, whereby said cable ends are held in a fixed position against the smaller diameter slots when said cables are placed in tension by insertion of said extendible center section of said base into said first recess.
 8. A light source as recited in claim 1, wherein said support means for said lamps comprises: a. a member having a central hub, a plurality of radially disposed U-shaped channels extending from said central hub and a recess centrally disposed in said central hub, said U-shaped channels opening upwardly in operating condition; b. a yoke including a tubular portion having peripherally disposed indentations, said tubular portion receiving at one end thereof a base member supporting a U-shaped member having vertical slots in the legs thereof; c. a tubular member having threaded mounting means extending transversely through registering apertures disposed at one end thereof and registering slots disposed at an opposite end of said tubular member, said threaded mounting means received in said vertical slots of said U-shaped member and said opposite end of said tubular member having said registering slots received in said recess of said central hub and means for securing said tubular member within said recess; d. fastening means extending transversely of the legs of said U-shaped channels for securing arms projecting beyond said U-shaped channels carrying said lamps; e. threaded means extending through the bight portion of each of said U-shaped channels for engaging said arms adjacent the end thereof secured in said U-shaped channels whereby upon adjustment of said threaded means said arms are raised and lowered; f. stud means projecting beyond the plane of the surface of said central hub forming the bight portions of said radially disposed U-shaped channels; and g. bail means releasably engaging said stud means for raising and lowering said plurality of lamps.
 9. Support means for a plurality of lamps comprising: a. a member having a central hub, a plurality of radially disposed U-shaped channels extending from said central hub and a recess centrally dispOsed in said central hub, said U-shaped channels opening upwardly in operating condition; b. a yoke including a tubular portion having peripherally disposed indentations, said tubular portion receiving at one end thereof a base member supporting a U-shaped member having vertical slots in the legs thereof. c. a tubular member having threaded mounting means extending transversely through registering apertures disposed at one end thereof and registering slots disposed at an opposite end of said tubular member, said threaded mounting means received in said vertical slots of said U-shaped member and said opposite end of said tubular member having said registering slots received in said recess of said central hub and means for securing said tubular member within said recess; d. fastening means extending transversely of the legs of said U-shaped channels for securing arms projecting beyond said U-shaped channels carrying said lamps; e. threaded means extending through the bight portion of each of said U-shaped channels for engaging said arms adjacent the end thereof secured in said U-shaped channels whereby upon adjustment of said threaded means said arms are raised and lowered; f. stud means projecting beyond the plane of the surface of said central hub forming the bight portions of said radially disposed U-shaped channels; and g. bail means releasably engaging said stud means for raising and lowering said plurality of lamps. 